Sisters in grade school study modules, sell face masks on mall steps

Grade schoolers Jenny Mae and Alexis Valdeavilla spend their weekdays on the lobby steps of a mall in Caloocan City in violation of the government's health protocols on minors having to stay at home to avoid catching COVID-19.

Jenny Mae, a Grade Five pupil; and Alexis, who's in Grade Two study their school modules while selling face masks and face shields.

They share their mother's cellphone for online classes in front of the mall exposed to the sun and light rain.

Their mother Nanette could not do anything about it.

“Naaawa nga ako kasi minsan, inaasar sila na bakit nandito sila sa kalye. Wala naman akong magagawa. Kasi wala namang gagabay sa kanila. Walang tutulong. Ako lang,” Nanette told GMA News.

Nanette tutors her daughters while their sell their wares. They take a break when someone buys their wares.

“Wala po kasing mag-aalaga sa akin, eh. Nauulanan saka naaarawan,” Jenny Mae said when asked why she had to stay outside instead of at home.

“Sobrang hirap po,” Alexis says of their situation.

Nanette said both children had been bullied because they stayed in the streets and, when they could still go to school before COVID-19, went to school without food or money.

Alexis' dream is to be a doctor while Jenny Mae's is to be a teacher.

Jenny Mae’s classes are in the afternoon while Alexis’ is in the morning.

Both girls hope to have their own cellphone so they could concentrate better on their lessons but Nanette said she couldn’t afford it.

A solo parent, Nanette has four other children and earns P300 to 500 per day.

Her only wish is for her daughters to graduate from college.

“Kung kaya ko igapang, igagapang ko po,” Valdeavilla said. -NB, GMA News